Because Metronome has normal move priority, a move with higher or lower priority may be executed other than when it normally would. For instance, Metronome may cause Quick Attack to be used after a normal priority move or Vital Throw to be used before a normal priority move.

Generation II

Generations III and IV

Metronome ignores the effects of Lock-On and Mind Reader when choosing a Pokémon to target. Metronome will not prioritize any Pokémon to target; it will randomly target any opponent a move is able to target (even if the move has a positive effect, such as Heal Pulse). If the move can only target the field, a team, or the user, it will do so. If Metronome chooses Acupressure, it can target the user or an ally (in a Single Battle, it will always target the user).

Generation V

If Metronome chooses Acupressure in a Rotation Battle, it will always target the user.

Pokémon that know Metronome are banned from participating in Pokéstar Studio films.

If Metronome calls a move the user knows and its user is holding a Choice Band, Choice Specs, or Choice Scarf, the move Metronome called will be locked by the Choice item. Otherwise, Metronome is the locked move. If a multi-turn move called by Metronome triggers Cursed Body, the multi-turn move will be disabled by Cursed Body, even if the user of Metronome does not know that move; otherwise, Metronome will be disabled.

In Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, Metronome can only select moves introduced in Generation I. It can select any move introduced in Generation I, except itself and the following moves.

Trivia

In the Pokémon anime, Splash has been the most common result of Metronome.

The move's Japanese name refers to the wagging finger associated with the move, implying the user is randomly deciding a move from a list. The move's English name refers to the regular ticks associated with the move, which sound like the device it is named after.